Self-winding electric clock.



No. 737,019. PATENTED AUG. 25, 1903. H. REMPE.

SELF WINDING ELECTRIC CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.12, 1902.

I0 MODEL, 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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No. 737,019. V PATENTED AUG. 25, 1903..

' H. RBMPE.

SELF WINDING ELECTRIC CLOCK.

APPLICATION rum) NOV-12. 1902. no MODEL. I a'snnnTs-snnn'r z.

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NH l'ncsacs No. 737,019. PATENTED AUG. 25, 1903.

H. REMPE.

SELF WINDING ELECTRIC CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.12, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

(Unvenl'oz Patented August 25, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY REMPE, OF DANVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

SELF-WINDING ELECTRIC CLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737, dated- August 1903- Application filed November 12, 1902. Serial No. 131,005. (No model.)

in the county of Montour and State of Penn sylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Winding Devices for Electric Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in clocks, and particularly to that class termed self-winding, and will be described in con- I nection with the accompanying drawings, in

which- Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of a clock-movement having my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view, partly in section, on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation, one of the side plates of the support or frame being removed, the parts being in the position occupied when the power or driving spring is extended. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the position of the parts when the power-spring is relaxed. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are detail views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 1 designate the side plates of the frame of a clock-movement, which plates are connected by suitable rods 2 and provide bearings for the several parts of the clock-movement. Between said plates is mounted the minute-wheel 3 of the clockmovement. This wheel is keyed or otherwise securely fastened to a shaft or arbor 4 and is connected to a train of gears controlled by an escapement device 5. On the shafte is loosely mounted a sleeve 6, having a toothed wheel 7 secured thereto. 1n the hub of the wheel 3 is formed a notch 8, into which projects a Springtongue 9 on the sleeve 6. This tongue is preferably of the the sleeve 6, from which it projects into the notch 8 to connect the wheel 3 and said sleeve 6. A second sleeve 10 is mounted on and adapted to turn about shaft 4:, it being arranged between the aforesaid sleeve 6 and "the side frame-plate 1'. To this sleeve 10 is igidly secured a radiallyprojecting arm aving its lower edge or side curved, and rom this cam-arm 11 projects laterally a TM or pin 12. To the outer end of this stud is connected the upper end of a coiled *ing 13, which is the driving or propelling form shown and is arranged within a slot in.

spring for the mechanism. The lower end of said springis secured to one of the cross bars or rods 2, that connect the sides of the supporting-frame. The stud or pin 12 also has connected thereto one endof a pawl 14, the

other end of whichengages the teeth on wheel 7 and turns the same and the wheel 3 as the cam-lever is rocked downwardly about the axis of shaft 4 by the action of spring 13.

On the supporting frame are suitably mounted two electromagnets 15, the armature 16 of which is carried bya shaft 17, having bearings in the side plates 1 1. To said shaft 17, within the path of movement of the cam 11, is secured a similarly-shaped but oppositelyarranged cam 18. As before described, the cam 0r lever 11 is connected to the toothed wheel 7 by the pawl 14, and said wheel is connected to the wheel 3 and through said wheel to the wheel engaged by the escapement device 5. The power-spring being under tension, or the parts occupying the relative positions shown in Fig. 3, it will be seen that at every actuation of the escapement device 5 the spring 13 will draw the free end of the cam-arm or lever 11 downwardly or cause the sleeve 10 supporting said arm to move about the shaft 4, and this movement will be communicated to the wheel 3 and said shaft 4, so that they will move to the same extent and in the same direction. As the wheel 3 and shaft 4 are thus turned the lower curved side of the arm 11 will contact with the curved or cam surface of' the arm 18 and rock the shaft 17 to lift the armature 16 from the magnets, the circuit through the magnets being normally broken or interrupted during the downward movement of the arm 11. The movement of shaft 17 caused by the depression of the arm 18 serves to effect a closing of an electric circuit including the magnets 15, so that when the power-spring 13 has been relaxed to as great an extent as is desired the magnets will be automatically entact 21.

it will be seen that one pole of an electric battery 20 is connected to a. contact-plate21, mounted on but insulated from the frameplate 1. The other pole of the battery is connected to the magnets 15. A movable contact-arm 22 is pivotally mounted on the frameplate 1 and is connected to an arm 23 on the shaft 17 by a fiat or leaf spring 24, which acts to rock the arm 22'about its pivot to cause a contact point or lug 25 thereon to bear against a similar point or lug on the stationary conlVhen the parts are in the positions indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, however, the arm 22 is held against the action of the spring 24 in such position that there is no contact between the lug 25 and plate 21. This is accomplished by providing the free end of the arm 23 with a lug 26,-that extends into the path of a stud or pin 27 near the lower endof the movable contact-piece 22. As the cam 18 is forced downwardly by the cam 11 the arm 23 on the rock-shaft 17 is gradually depressed until the lug 26 thereon passes below the stud or pin 27, and the spring 24 instantly swings the movable contact-piece 22 into the position shown in Fig. 6 and closes the electric circuit. The magnets 15are energized and the armature 16 drawn downward, raising the cams 18 11 and placing the power-spring 13 under tension, as before described. Immediatelyon thecommencement of the downward movement of the armature 16 and the consequent upward movement of the arm 23 the spring 24 .tends to draw the movable contact 22 away from the stationary contact; but such movement of the movable contact is prevented by the lug 26 on the arm 23 being then in rear of the stopror pin 27, as shown in Fig. 6. To prevent damage to the spring 24 under these conditions, it is not connected rigidly to the movable contactpiece 22, but has its upper end deflected slightly and extended into a slot '28, formed in said contact. The forward surface of the lug 26 is inclined, as shown in Fig. 6, and said lug is of such height that it insures a closing of the electric circuit until the cams 18 11 have been raised far enough to give the desired tension to the power-spring 13. When the parts 18 11 have been raised sufficiently, the arm 23 will be in such position that the stud or pin 27 is released by the lug 26, and the spring 24 instantly moves the adjustable contact 22 away from the stationary contact 21 and into the position shown in Fig. 7, breaking the electric circuit and deenergizing the magnets. As soon as the magnets are denergized the weight of the cam 18 rocks the armature 16 away from the magnets and brings the lug 26 into position in front of the stud or pin 27 to prevent contact between the pieces 21 22 until the cam 18 is again depressed by the cam 11, as previously described.

It will be noticed that while the clock is being wound or the spring 13 is being placed under tension the propelling power is moswim at all times.

mentarily released or disconnected from the wheel 3, the pawl 14 simply sliding upwardly over the teeth of wheel 7. This would tend to give the clock-hands, which are connected with the shaft 4 in the ordinary manner, a sudden movement or vibration. To obviate this, I provide means for holding the wheels 7 and 3 and the shaft 4 stationary while the cams 18 11 are being raised. The pull of the spring 13 causes the spring-tongue 9 to bend slightly, so that it contacts with the shoulder 30 on the sleeve, and if the wheel 7 is held stationary, while the clock is being wound this tongue 9 will maintain the wheel 3 and shaft 4 in corresponding condition and take up any lost motion due to the fact that the propelling force is disconnected during the winding operation. To hold the wheel 7 stationary,I employ a dog or pawl 31,mounted on a shaft 32 and engaging said wheel in such a manner as to prevent any movement thereof in a direction opposite that in which it is moved by the pawl 14.

An important feature of the winding mechanism hereinbefore described is the'manner in which the varying power of the armature is applied to the spring 13. When the winding commences, the armature is at the greatest distance from the magnets and can therefore exert a minimum pull or force on the spring. At this time, however, the point of contact between the cams 18 and 11 is relatively far from the axis of the shaft 4, and therefore the slight pull exerted by the armature is sufficient to start the upward movement of the cam 11 and begin the stretching of spring 13. As the point of contact between cams 11 and 18 is shifted toward shaft 4 thepower or pull exerted by the armature increases, because it is constantly approaching the magnets, and therefore the extension of the spring 13 is gradually eifected. The pull of said spring on the cam-arm 11 is also gradual and con- When the spring is fully extended, its pulling power is of course greatest; but at such time the line of force is relatively nearer the axis of the arm 11 than it is as the said arm swings downwardly. The shifting cf the line of force elfectually compensates for the difi'erence in the strength of the pull exerted by the spring, so that the power applied to wheel 3 is constant at all positions of the arm 11. When the moving contact 22 is released and forced forward by spring 24, it makes a sliding contact with the stationary contact 21, and this sliding movement effectually cleans any dust from the con'- tact-surfaces. 2.

Having thus described my invention, wha

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Lette' Patent, is 1. In a c1ock,the combination with t j. movement, of a spring adapted to d! movement, an electric circuit includ 8 tionary contact and a magnet, a mo' 1 tact for closing said circuit, as t of the power-spring is relaxed,

nected with the armature for placing the spring under tension when the magnet'is energized, means connected with the armature for moving the movable contact from the stationary contact, and means for preventing such movement of the movable contact until the spring has been placed under the desired tension.

2. In a clock,the combination with the clockmovement, of a spring adapted to drive said movement,an electric circuit including a magnet, a movable circuit-closer, means for normally maintaining said circuit-closer in inoperative position adapted to be withdrawn when the tension of the driving-spring is reduced to a predetermined extent, a spring connected to the circuit-closer for moving it into operative position when said locking means is Withdrawn, means for automatically increasing the tension of the spring when the circuit is closed and the magnet is energized, and means connected with the armature for maintaining the circuit-closerin operative position until the spring has the desired tension.

3. In a clock,the combination With the clockmovement, of a spring adapted to drive said movement, an electric circuit including a magnet, a movable, spring-presse d, circuitcloser, a pivotally-mounted armature, an arm connected to said armature and normally engaging said circuit-closer to hold it in inoperative position, means for withdrawing said arm from engagement with the circuit-closer as the tension of the spring is relaxed, and means for increasing the tension of the spring when the magnet is energized, said arm being adapted to engage the circuit-closer and maintain it in operative position until the desired tension of the spring is attained.

4. In a clock,the combinationwith the clockmovement, of a shaft, a sleeve loosely fitted on the shaft and flexibly connected with a gear secured to the shaft and forming part of the clock-movement, a power-spring consleeve on said shaft, means for connecting said sleeves as the one connected to the spring is moved thereby an electric circuit including a magnet, means actuated from one of 5 feeves for closing said circuit,and means .ected with the armature of the magnet f rocking said sleeve connected with the pring about its supporting-shaft to place the spring under tension when the magnet is energized.

5. In a clock the combination witha shaft, of a clock-movement having a wheel secured to the shaft, a sleeve loosely mountedon the shaft and having a flexible tongue projecting beyond one end thereof into engagement with the hub of said wheel of the clock-movement, a ratchet-wheel secured to said sleeve, a second sleeve on said shaft, adapted to engage the ratchet-wheel when moved in one direction, a power-spring connected to thesecond sleeve to turn both said sleeves in said direci tion and drive the clock-movement, means nected to a stationary post and to a second for automatically turning said second sleeve in the opposite direction, at the completion of a predetermined movement thereof, to maintain the power-spring under proper tension, and a pawl engaging the ratchet to hold the wheel connected thereto stationary during such backward movement of the winding-' sleeve.

6. In a clock the combination with the clockmovement,of a shaft geared to said movement, an arm sleeved on said shaft and adapted to turn the same when moved in one direction, a power-spring for so moving said arm, an electric circuit including a magnet, a springpressed circuit-closer, a pivotally-mounted armature for the magnet, a stop connected with the armature and normally holding the circuit-closer in inoperative position, an arm connected with the armature and extending into the path of the arm connected to the power-spring and adapted to be actuated by said spring-arm, as the spring is relaxed, to withdraw the stop and release the circuitcloser, said armature-arm acting to move the spring-arm to increase the tension of the power-spring when the magnet is energized, and means for breaking the circuit when the spring has attained the desired tension.

7. In a clock, the combination of a clockmovement, a power device for driving said movement,an electric circuit includinga magnet, means connected with the armature of the magnet for adjusting the power device to cause it to exert its maximum power, a spring-impelled circuitcloser, and a stop movable by the armature of the magnet and adapted to intermittently engage the circuitcloser to hold it in operative position when the power exerted by the power deviceisreduced to a predetermined amount and to hold said circuit-closer in inoperative position when said power device is adjusted to exert its maximum power.

8. In a clock, the combination of a clockmovement, a power device for driving said movement,an electric circuitincludinga magnet, means connected with the armature of the' magnet for adjusting the power device to cause it to exert its maximum power, a pivotally-mounted circuit-closer,'a spring connected to said closerand acting tomove it about its pivot, anda stop movablelby the armature of the magnet and adapted to en gage said circuit-closer and hold it in inoperative position, with its actuating-spring under tension, until the power of the driving device is reduced to a predetermined extent, and to rengage said circuit-closer and hold it in operative position and its actuatingspring under tension until the driving device has, been adjusted to exert its maximum power on the clock-movement. V

9. In a clock, the combination of a clock-l movement, a power device for driving said movement,an electric circuit including a mag net, a pivotally-mounted, spring-pressed, cir cuit-closer, two stops or engaging surfaces on.

said circuit-closer, means connected with the armature for successively engaging said stops, and means connected with the armature for adjusting the driving device to cause it to exert its maximum power on the clockmovement, said circuit-closer being held in inoperative position until the power of the driving device is reduced to a predetermined amount and held in operative position until said driving device is adjusted to exert'its 10 maximum power.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY REMPE.

Witnesses:

G. WEIL, M. G. YOUNGMAN. 

